Varying costs in Iowa; how to tell us more

Mar. 30, 2013

Andie Dominick

COST OF SCHOOLS VARIES

President Barack Obama’s administration has pushed for more transparency in the cost of higher education. Schools are required to make available “net price calculators” to help families determine the final cost of attending a specific school (the sticker price minus grant aid). The Register’s editorial board was able to use these uniform calculators to compare the prices of some cosmetology colleges in Iowa.

For a single, childless, 19-year-old female living in a family of five with a household income between $50,000 and $59,000, the “estimated total price” to attend:

• The Original La’James College in Mason City: $32,362. After receiving $5,381 in “grant aid,” the woman would have to come up with $26,981.

• Aveda Institute in West Des Moines: $34,470. After receiving $4,750 in grant aid, the student would owe $29,720.

• Iowa School of Beauty in Marshalltown: $21,699. After receiving $2,952 in grant aid, the student would owe $18,747.

HOW MUCH TO ATTEND LA'JAMES IN JOHNSTON?

The Register’s editorial board repeatedly attempted to contact Cynthia Becher, owner of La’James International College, a for-profit cosmetology school with seven locations in Iowa. (This is not affiliated with The Original La’James College in Mason City.) The editorial board was seeking answers about costs, graduation rates, programming and allegations the school requires students to sell products.

Becher did not respond to emails or phone calls.

The federal government requires colleges and universities to make information about the cost of attendance available on their websites. As of last week, La’James did not. That information was also not provided when a representative of the editorial board picked up a prospective-student folder at the Johnston location.

Also, for more than two weeks we have been awaiting answers from the U.S. Department of Education about whether schools that don’t comply with transparency requirements face penalties or sanctions.

We were, however, able to get an idea of the expense of attending La’James by looking at the complaints filed about the school with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission.

One student reported a $7,000 discrepancy between the $27,000 in federal student aid the school received on her behalf and the amount the school charges. The student said the school told her she would be paid the difference to cover living expenses. La’James told the state she missed two graduation dates, which resulted in additional charges for make-up hours.

Another student lodged a similar complaint with the state.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Only six states require more licenses for low- and middle-income occupations than Iowa. The Register’s editorial board is exploring the financial burdens and economic implication of this state’s licenses to work. If you have a story to share, contact editorial writer Andie Dominick at adominick@dmreg.com.